Hopper mechanism for automatic filling-replenishing looms



I Feb. 5 1924'. 1,482,412

A. E. RHOADES HOPPE R MECHANISM .FOR AUTOMATIC FILLING REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed Sent. 13, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.2. 7

auto 9 2S)! I 1 InvenTor. 'Alongo E. Rhoudes Feb. 5, 1924. 1,482,412 I A. E. RHOADES HOPPER MECHANISM FOR AUTOMATIC FILLING REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed Sept. 13, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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Aden-5o ERhoudes b 7 v n s.

Patented Feb. 5, 1924.

entran -I sir as;

I lASZAlZP VILLONZIQ. m sseuse, Hartman Jm aefius sa. s le ws mom rne we BOR-A'IIQN, .VOF. HOBEDALE; viesseefi ss sia Genres-Arlen or MAINE;

HOPPER MECHANISM FOR AUTQMATIC FILLINGe-REPLENISHING ROOMS.

Applicationfiled-.vsepte nber: 13-, 1922.

1 .allnuhamit mayconcem:

Be it known thah 1,. A'LQNZQ i E. RHoADns, a. citizen of the UnitedsSt-a-tes, resident; of Hopedale, county. of: Yllorcester Stttfi-.Off Massachusetts, have. invented an; Improve; ment in Hopper Mechanisms; for Automatich illing-Replenishing- Looms, of: which the following description, in connection. with 'the accompanying drawing, is a. specifioar tion, like. character-son the drawingirepresenting likepants.

This invention relates to -=a-utomatic fi'llingi replenishing. looms in which asupply of; filling carrier-s, such as bobbins, is maintained in av rotary hopper flOlILVl'llChthe filling carriers: are successively transferred? to the lay: through I the action oil automatic mechanism.- In theitype of 100m to which this invention 7 relates, the rotatable hopper is provided with a ratchetwheel; which is: actuated by a feed pawl connected to orcontrolled in its movement: by the trans ferrer; which discharges the filling carriers fromrthe hopper-to tl'ielay. This type of mechanism is characteristic of the; well known Northrop loom;

It-is-v-ery important inthis type ofymechanisin, that the hoppershalli be rotated with precision so as-to bni ng thefresh filling czn riers successively-intoexactly the properposit-ionfor transfer; for; it thehopper is either; rotated" too inueh or too littleto posttion'the fillingcarrier tobetransferred accurately the filling'car'rier- Wil'l not be properl ytransfer-red and asmash islikely to resultwhich will injure on break the filling terrier, theshuttle; or even the-hopper slamh of the loom. j

The principal object of the present invention, therefore, is to-provide a novel mechanism which will} insure the properand accurate presentation of the filling carriers in transferring position.

In hopper orbattery mechanisms. of this: ty-pe,'the feeding ratchet is usually cast integral with the hopper; the invention is to provide a ratchet disk which is adjustably secured to; the hopper so that the relation ofthe teethof the ratchet disk to thefeeding pawland tothe locking dog he so established that a more accurate positioningof the filling carriers maybe eflctediand maintained.-

A further feature of theinvention isto provide a ratchet disk of; this type with ac- Another objectof Serial Nor 588,063;

curately' machined teeth adapted-1 to cooperate with the feeding pawlzand lockingido g; ithgreater; accuracy than iniprevious constructions.

A further object of" theinvention' is to provide detent: mechanism for arresting the hopper as it is intermittentlyrotated in suchipositions. that the fillingicarnien to be transferred will be properlylocated with re? spect tothe. shuttle A- further object of the invention" istoprovide automatic means i for releasing saith detent: mechanism during the movement of; the transferrer to enable the hopperto be rotated to advance the. next filling carrierin the hopper in transferring position.

These, and other objects mt featuresof the invention, will more-fully appear-fromthefollowing description and the accompanyingdrawings, and Willbe particularly; pointed out: in theolaims;

The invention isillustrated herein as applied to the-hopperanechanism of the well"- known Northrop type of loom.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is anend elevation partially; in transverse section ota; sufficient portion ofthe= hoppei mechanisin of" a loom to disclose the present invention inits; preferred formembodied therein.

Fig.3, is a plan view-of the-detent mechanism for arrestingthe rotation of' thehopper andthe means for actuating. the same from the transferrer, a; portion of='the hopper stand beingshown; in cross section;

Fig. 3, is avertica-l' sect-ion; through the lay and breast; beam sl'iow-ing-in elevation, the hop per stand, the-detent mechanism, and the mechanism by which the same is operated from the transferrer.

Figa- 43, is adetail view invertical section, showing a portion of the hopperstandEand throatand a portion of the hopper disk provided with a pivotal filling carrier'support engaging the base: of the fillingv carrier and detent mechanism inposition to arrest the rotation ofthe hopper:- and;

Fig.- 5; is a View similar to Fig 4 showing the position of the pivotalfilling carrier support andits relation. to the detentmechanism when thefilling carrier has been discharged,

The general construction-of-thistype of" loomheing well known and; familiar; to those skilled in the art needs no extended del U U llu usual circular hopper plate 7, provided with a stud 8, upon which the rotary hopper 1s scriptionJ Such a loom comprises the usual loom frame 1, breast beam 2, having a hopper stand 3 mounted thereon, and a lay 4, having at its end a shuttle box 5, to receive the shuttle 6. The hopper stand 3, has the mounted. The hopper comprises the usual hopper plate 9, having at its periphery a series of recesses 10, to receive the bases of the fresh filling carriers which are to be supplied to the shuttle.

One of the features of the present inven-' tion consists in providing novel yieldable supports for the bases of the filling carriers. The preferred form of support which is illustrated herein comprises a plate or .lever 11, having a fiat end portion adapted to one gage the base of the filling carrier, said lever being mounted upon pintles 12, seated in suitable recesses or hearings in the hopper plate. The other end of the lever 11, is engaged by a spring 13, which tends to swing the filling carrier supporting lever about its pivot and to force the filling carrier engag ing portion of the lever inwardly as illustrated in Fig. 5. When, however, the filling carrieris introduced, .the filling carrier support is swung into substantially the vertical plane of the hopper plate as illustrated in Fig. 4, it being understood that the opposite end of the filling carrier is seated in a socket in a suitable support at the other end of the hopper as is usual in hopper construction of this character. 7

' Each filling carrier support is provided with a stop member preferably in the form of a lug 14, which extends from the opposite faceof the filling carrier supporting portion of the lever 11. A cooperatingdetent is pro-- vided to en age the stop members of the filling carrier support and arrest the rotation of the hopper when the foremost filling carrier has reached transferring position. The

" cooperating stop and detent therefore prevent any overthrow of the hopper, and in cooperation with the locking dog hereinafter described, accurately locate the filling carrier to be transferred in transferring position.

The preferred form of detent illustrated herein comprises a pin or looking bolt 15, which is reciprocably mounted in a suitable bearing 16, in the hopper stand, (see Fig. 2). The pin 17, or shoulder, upon the detent 15, serves to limit the inward movement thereof so that it will properly engage only the stop members 14 of the filling carrier supports. Any suitable mechanism may he pro ided for withdrawing the detent 15, from the path of the stop members 14 on the filling carrier supports in synchronism with the movement of the transferrer in order to enable the successive filling carriers to be presented in transferringposition. As illustrated herein, the detent 15, is. pivotally connected to a stud 18, in the end of a lever 19, which is pivotally mountedupon a stud 20, carried by a lug or bracket2l, on the hopper stand.

A helical spring-'22, having one end engaging the lever 19, and the other end'seated upon a shoulder upon the lug or bracket 21, tends normally to force the end of the detent into the path of the stop members upon the filling carriers. 7

The lever 19, is provided with an upwardly extending end or arm 23, having a bevelledor cam faced'upperend portion 24, positioned in the path of, and adapted tobe engaged by a complementary bevelled face or cam 25, upon the end of an arm 26, the.

opposite end of which is offset and connected by a machine screw- 27, to the hub 28 of the transferrer.

The transferrer may be of the usual type.

extended arm 32, having pivotally mounted thereon a dog 33, which is moved by the usualcontroller meclnnism, upon call for transferrer, into the path of the hunter 34, upon the lay. The relative position of the arm 26, and its cam faced end 25,.to the cam on the upwardly extending end portion 23 of the lever 19 is such that the lever 19, is actuated to withdraw the detent 15, from the path of the stop members 14,.during the initial portion of the transferring movement of the transferrer and to withhold the detent from such position until after the filling carrier has been thrust from the filling carrier support 11, by the action of the trans;

ferrer so that the hopper may be rotated to advance the next succeeding li hing carrier to transferringposition.

Any suitable mechanism may be employed for rotating the hopper intermittently to advance the successive filling carriers to transferring position. As illustrated herein, the hopper is rotated by a feed pawl 35, of the usual type, which'is mounted upon the transferrer, said feed pawl being provided with a stud 36, which is journalled in a boss 37, on the transferrer arm 30. .The feed pawl is provided with a laterallvextending toot-h 38, which is positioned to engage the teeth 39 of a ratchet disk 40, which is connected to the hopper. The backward rotation of the hopper is prevented by a locking; dog 41, which is pivotally mounted upon a stud 42 on the hopper stand, the upper end ofthe locl'ring dogwil, being held in engage;

ment with the. teeth, 39; of the. ratchet disk: by a suitable c unter-WeightJLB, The looking dog is.- provided with, a; laterally exectended; arm, which projects r over the hubzkof the transferrer in such position to limit: the swinging movement; of the lockingi dog; as it passes over the ratchetteetlnduringi the r tati n of e hopper and; here y; insures proper engagement-of said; dog withthe successive teeth-of the hopperdisk.

In previous construction tl1e,r;a -tchet; disk;

has been cast integral with the hoppen-plata One of the important;featuresofthe-present: invention consists in provid ng; a: R tchet;

plate which is constructedindependently of the hopper disk, and preferably. provided with, accurately machined; teeth ,to cooperate with the tooth; 38" oi" the feedjin pawl. 35, and, with the locking dog; 41;, ti disk being a djustahlysecured to thediopper plate at a remote distance, from the stud;

about which the hopper, rotates in. order that n accurate relation mayheestablishedbetween the teeth; of; the ratchet plate, the feeding. pawl andz tlie. locking dog; Erefer ably such adjustability; is securediby attache.

mg the ratchet disk 40, to. the hoppen'plate;

9, by boltsifii, extendingthroughi'slots: 45. in the ratchet disk: and tapped: into the hop per plate 9.

By reason ofjtheconstr-uction. above.- de scribed, the action ofthexdetent in. en:

gaging. the successive v.stopmembers legupon,

stop memberof: any: suitable a filling: carrien support.

asto engage the stop of. the next'fillin car.- rier support. beyond the foremost any possible interference of the-detent mecln.

anism with the transfer of; the positioned filling carrier. will'beavoidedz Any suitable means may. be providedvfor preventing the filling carrier which: is; posi tioned for transfer; from dropping; out Or being dislodged from the filling;canr er supr. port. is particularly adaptedi to; the employment oft a retainingfingerfor such; purpose of;

the character illustrated in my; prior Patent is; ratchet,-

detent mechanism heretofore; de scribed, may be positioned to, engage the In. the preferred construction. illustrated herein, the detent isisoposit-ioned" filling carrier which is to be transferred, so that The present construction, v how-even -;1,3 .ll,999- granted June, 1, 192i), in which ie-h0ppe t= e dis nr f dwith a ha nel:

shaped; portion min which a fingerA'Y, is.

piuotally mounted-upona studAfi, seatedginied to be engaged by the base of the fillingcarrier as it is. being transferred and to swing the fingen outwardly to permit the filling carrien tobe transferred to the shut tle.- An -adjustable stop consisting of a bolt, 52', which issecured in the hopper stand] passes. through a, recess; in the upper portion of the finger 47, and is providedv with a head i to engage said finger-- so that: the bevelled end; portion; 51 of-said finger may be properly; positioned-in relation to the filling carrier Which. is aositionfld;v for transfer;

Itwill be unc erstood that the embodiment of the invention disclosed herein is ofair illustrative character and" not restrictive and: that various changes in. form. construction and arrangement of parts may be made within the spirit; and scope of; the following claims.- I

Having thus described my. invention, What I claim as} new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1; In a filling; replenishingloom comprising a rotatable hopper having; a: peripheral series of spring, actuatedsupport-etc engage thebases' oftilling carriers, a, transferrer and meansfor rotating; said hoppen intermittently after each; transfer to. present. the

filli'n carriers successivel 1 in transferrin position; astopmemher on each filling, car rier support, a cooperating detent positioned to :engageone. of: the filling-carrier support stop members to arrest the" rotation of? the hopperv with the foremost fillingcarrier positioned accurately for transfer, and means operable in synchronism with the movement of the transfer-rear to withdrawsaid detent from engagement with said stop. member, to permit feeding movement of said hopperafter." transfer.

2, Ina filling; replenishing loom comprising a; rotatablehopper having a peripheral? series: of spring actuated; supports'to engage the bases 0t filling carriers, atransferrerand means for" rotating said hopper interr. mii tently, aftereach transfer to present the filling carrierssuccessively'; in transferring position; astop member 011 each filling, carrier support, at coopenating'. detent: positioned to engage one of the filling. carrier support stop; members supports to engage the bases of filling carriers, -a transferrer and means operable thereby to rotate said hopper intermittently after each transfer to present the filling carriers successively in transferring posi- 'tion; a stop member on each filling carrier support, a cooperating spring actuated detent mounted on said hopper stand and posrtioned to engage a stop member of one of the filling carrier supports and thereby.

arrest the rotation of said hopper with the foremost filling carrier positioned accurately for transfer, and means operable by said transferrer during its transferring movement to withdraw and withhold said spring actuated 'detent from engagement with said stop member during the initial portion of the rotative movement of said hopper.

4. In a filling replenishing loom comprising a hopper stand, a rotatable hopper havmg a peripheral series of spring actuated supports to engage the bases of filling carriers, a transferrer and means operable thereby for rotating said hopper intermittently after each transfer to present the filling carriers successively in transferring position; a stop member on each filling car rier support, a cooperating detent reci r rocably mounted on said hopper stand and positioned to engage one of the filling carrier support stop members to arrest the rotation of the hopper with the foremost filling carrier positioned accurately for transfer and means operable by the: movement of the transferrer to withdraw said detent from engagement with said stop member, comprising an arm connected to said transferrer provided with a cam and a lever connected to said reciprocable detent positioned to be engaged by said cam during the movement of said transfer, and means to restore said detent to operative position to engage the stop member of the next succeeding filling carrier support.

5. In an automatic filling replenishing loom comprising a hopper stand, a rotatable hopper having a peripheral series of spring actuated filling carrier supports, a transferrer. a pawl carried by said transfer-reiand a co-operating ratchet on saidhopper operable by the movement of said trans ferrer to rotate said hopper intermittently; a stop member on each filling carrier support, a co-operating detent reciprocably mounted on said hopper stand, an'arm connected to said transfer-rel" provided with a cam and a lever connected'to said detent adapted to be engaged by the cam upon said transferrer and operable thereby to withdraw said detent fro'm'the path of said stop members in advance of the actuation of said hopper by said'transferrer pawl, and means to restore said detent to operative position in advance of the completion of the hopper rotating movement wherebythe next succeeding stop member will be engaged by said detent. r

6. In an automatic filling replenishing loom comprising a hopper stand, adetent reciprocably mounted thereon, a rotatable hopper, a transferrer, means operable thereby to rotate said hopper 'intern'iittently, a peripheral series of supports for the bases of filling carriers yieldably mounted on said hopper and adapted to be pressed outwardly upon insertion of a Lfilling carrier, astop member on each filling carrier support adapted upon rotation of thehopper to be engaged by said detent whenthe filling carrier support is loadedwith a filling calrier V tion during the final portion of the intermittent rotative movement of said hopper;

7. In an automatic filling replenishing loom comprising a hopper stand, a hopper rotatably mounted upon a stud on said hopper stand having a peripheral series of supports for the bases of the filling carriers, a toothed feeding ratchet, a transferrer, a pawl carried thereby engaging said ratchet and operable by the movement of said trans ferrer torotate said hopper, (an-animating stop members acting to'limit the forward intermittent movements of the hopper to position the filling carrier accurately in transferring position, and a dog engaging the teeth of said ratchet positioned to prevent backward rotation of said hopper; means located ata remote distance from said stud 'for adjustably securing saidtoothed ratchet to saidhopper whereby the teeth of said ratchet may be positioned so as to co-op erate accurately with said dog to prevent oral series of supports for the bases of the IOU lUS

filling carriers, a feeding ratchet having machined teeth, a transferrer, a pawl carried thereby engaging said ratchet and operable by the movement of said transferrer to rotate said hopper, co-operating stop members acting upon the hopper adjacent to its periphery to limit the intermittent forward movement of the hopper to position the filling carrier accurately in transferring posltion, a dog having a machined tooth to engage the teeth of said ratchet positioned to prevent backward rotation of said hopper, means for adjustably securing said ratchet to said hopper whereby the teeth of said ratchet may be so positioned as to co-operate accurately with said dog to prevent back- Ward rotation of the hopper When the filling carriers are successively positioned properly for transfer.

9. In an automatic filling replenishing loom comprising a hopper having a peripheral series of supports for the bases of the filling carriers, a toothed feeding ratchet, a transferrer, a pawl carried thereby engaging said ratchet and operable by the movement of said transferrer to rotate said hopper, and a dog engaging the teeth of said ratchet positioned to prevent backward rotation of said hopper; means for adjustably securing said toothed ratchet to said hopper whereby the teeth of said ratchet may be positioned so as to co-operate accurately with said dog to prevent backward rotation of the hopper when the filling carriers are successively positioned properly for transfer, and stop mechanism for poistively arresting the forward rotation of said hopper when the foremost filling carrier reaches transferring position including a lug upon each filling carrier support and a co-operating detent mounted on the hopper stand and means operable in synchronism with the movement of the transferrer to Withdraw said detent from engagement With said lug to permit feeding ALONZO E. RHOADES. 

